Northern Afghanistan Looking Secure (According to Admiral Stavridis)

The security situation in northern Afghanistan - also referred to as RC-North is looking quite good according to the EUCOM Commander - Admiral James Stavridis. The Admiral recently toured northern Afghanistan and has commented on his observations in a blog post on the EUCOM blog on February 28, 2013 entitled "Way Up North ...".

He opens the blog post up with his impression of a book entitled "The Afghan Campaign" by Steven Pressfield. The book is a historcal novel about soldiers fighting for Alexander the Great in Afghanistan. Stavridis says the novel's history is spot on and depicts the problems foreign armies have in conquering Afghans, eliminating corruption, and adjusting to cultural differences. I read the book a few years back and it is quite good. The Afghan Campaign: A Novel

Stavridis goes on to say that the economy of northern Afghanistan is humming along, security is doing very well (despite pockets of insurgent areas), and that even though ISAF is drawing down its strength and capabilities in the north the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) will be able to handle the security situation.